Archives in Artistic, Activist and Applied Contexts

This edited collection brings together 16 contributors working across varied artistic, academic and geographic contexts, united by a shared concern: how archives might be reimagined to more accurately reflect diverse populations, cultures and priorities. The volume presents international case studies where archives are used as tools for social justice, creative expression and empowerment by activists, artists and socially engaged practitioners. Organised in three sections Activism and the Archive; Arts and the Archive; and Applied Practice and the Archive the collection explores a broad spectrum of innovative practices. The first section examines the intersections between activism and contemporary archival work. The second highlights artistic engagement with archives, particularly in relation to underrepresented art forms. The third section features applied practices that utilise archives with community groups in participatory settings. Together, these contributions offer new insights into how archives can support alternative narratives and foster more inclusive understandings of history, memory and cultural identity.